So, you own and operate a retail business in the 2020’s. How is it working out for you? Have you questioned the effectiveness of your POS system lately? Many business owners think they do. However, many other retail owners who take an honest look at their business will see that an effective system can be far more than software that continues to work without breaking down. But what are the right questions to ask to even determine if your POS system (and your business) is efficient and effective?
Here at Computer Perfect, we developed the Lightning Retail Point-of-Sale Platform to specifically answer the following question and help make retail businesses more efficient and the lives of the retail store owners a lot easier. Here is a good place start. Ask yourself, has doing business in my retail segment changed over the past 5- 10 years? Most people would probably answer yes. Consider for a moment the changes in our country and the economy in just the past three years. Does your POS system live in the 1990’s? So, what does your current POS system tell you about your business? Perhaps you’re a new business and looking for a new system for the future. Either way, The Lightning POS system is designed and maintained to be current, robust, accurate and very fast to keep up with the business needs of retailers today. We offer a little food for thought and some questions that every retail business owner should consider when determining if their operation and POS system is efficient.
Does your POS system help you manage your Inventory and help improve your cash flow?
Simply said, Inventory and cash flow are first cousins. They can sink your business if not controlled. They can create significant wealth if managed effectively. A lot of POS systems claim to “help manage inventory”. Really? How? When evaluating a POS system, look for software that is robust and multi-faceted. It should not only summarize your sales but also identify what items are the best and worst selling items. It should highlight items with the best profit margin. Did discounts impact item movement? Are you able to issue Purchase orders to vendors through the system? Look for systems that have robust reports that allow you to analyze trends, stock levels and activity. Systems that allow you to manage your vendor file, and price change history will make your life easier. If your inventory only keeps a count of how many you have, your business is probably not as profitable as it could be. Lightning POS provides real time inventory management with dozens of built-in reports and features that explain exactly what you need to know about your inventory today and into the future.
Does your POS system tell you anything about the productivity of employees?
After inventory and rent, employees may be your next largest expense. Many POS systems work as timeclocks, plain and simple. Look for a system that can track and report on an employee’s productivity. It should tell you not only who’s working when and how long but also what and how much they have sold. Look for security features where the owner or manager can define what employees are allowed to do and not do such as discounting sales and ring employees sales. It should help plan staffing for peak and off-peak hours, analyze sales returns processed. A good system will provide many security and operational features for you to manage employees effectively. Lightning POS offers not only the ability to clock employees in & out, but it also comes with a host of security features where the owner/management can set security limits for employees. offers not only the ability to clock employees in & out, but it also comes with a host of security features where the owner/management can set security limits for employees.
Does your POS system tell you anything about your customers and provide useful marketing tools?
Keeping close tabs (securely of course) on who your customers are and what they buy from you often can lead to increased sales, loyalty and engagement. Look for POS systems with reports and tools for marketing to your customers. Systems should capture key demographics as well as the ability to issue and manage gift cards, loyalty programs, store events and offer advanced discount groups. Efficient and effective retailers do this exceptionally well. Today, many POS systems charge their customers for marketing features and managing their rewards and loyalty programs. However, at Lightning POS all our POS marketing features are included in our software. You the retailer decide to turn it on to use it or not. Putting control in your hands is something we strive for.all our POS marketing features are included in our software. You the retailer decide to turn it on to use it or not. Putting control in your hands is something we strive for.
Does your POS system report how your business is running when you are not in the store?
Without a doubt, a POS system that answers this question yes is probably modern, efficient and state of the art. Look for POS systems that are accessible remotely by computer, tablet or I-Phone. A very good system can offer all three. Who would argue that checking in on the store from your home or the golf course is not efficient? Lightning POS has been offering the feature to manage your business remotely for several years. Lightning puts the power in your hands to keep an eye on your business regardless of where you are.
Does your POS system Integrate fully with your E-Commerce site?
If you own a retail store and do not have an on-line E-Commerce option, you are probably missing out on additional sales. Talk about changes in the last 10 years! If you do have an E-Commerce solution but it’s not integrated with your POS, your business is probably not as efficient as it should be. Look for a POS system that has an integrated E-Commerce solution and avoid entering on-line sales manually into your POS system. Not all POS systems offer this, but the better systems out there do. Your life and inventory management process will be a lot easier. The Lightning E-Commerce platform is fully integrated with our POS system giving you a seamless transaction flow with no double entries and an up-to-date inventory. We’ll even help you with the website design and your own store app.
Does your POS system provide the functionality you need to manage your business into the future?
Most growing businesses that are thriving do so because they have a strong, robust and well-developed POS system. Look for systems that are updated regularly with enhancements and bugs are fixed quickly. Great POS systems today are browser based which makes them fast and easily updated. Look for systems that are easy to operate, have excellent technical and customer support with live people. Systems that go through a recorded menu and finally reach a live person 10 minutes later are tedious and not efficient when customers are waiting in line. Look for a system that has a feature that keeps you in business when your store WIFI goes down (this feature is rare but world-class systems offer this. Finally, if you have a plan to expand and grow, look for a system that is scalable from one store to an enterprise and if that system can answer the question above, you’ll probably never have to upgrade again. We developed Lightning POS and its supporting platforms so you would never need another POS system again. We update and upgrade features every month to ensure your system is always cutting edge. We provide superior tech support with real people answering the phone. No robots, no offshore outsourcing, no hold times, no kidding. It’s for real and it differentiates us from competitors.
Conclusion:
If you want a more profitable and well-run business, be better than your competition, make your life better by working smarter and not harder, commit to moving from a POS system stuck in the past and move into the future. The Lightning Retail POS Technology Platform was designed with you in mind. We work harder than anyone to make conversions as painless as possible. We understand today’s retail business and we keep an eye on the future to make sure we are always current, relevant and reasonably priced.
It's time to make a change. Leave the past and be part of the future with Lightning Retail POS Technology Platform.
Most growing businesses that are thriving do so because they have a strong, robust and well-developed POS system. Look for systems that are updated regularly with enhancements and bugs are fixed quickly. Great POS systems today are browser based which makes them fast and easily updated. Look for systems that are easy to operate, have excellent technical and customer support with live people. Systems that go through a recorded menu and finally reach a live person 10 minutes later are tedious and not efficient when customers are waiting in line. Look for a system that has a feature that keeps you in business when your store WIFI goes down (this feature is rare but world-class systems offer this. Finally, if you have a plan to expand and grow, look for a system that is scalable from one store to an enterprise and if that system can answer the question above, you’ll probably never have to upgrade again. We developed Lightning POS and its supporting platforms so you would never need another POS system again. We update and upgrade features every month to ensure your system is always cutting edge. We provide superior tech support with real people answering the phone. No robots, no offshore outsourcing, no hold times, no kidding. It’s for real and it differentiates us from competitors.
Conclusion:
If you want a more profitable and well-run business, be better than your competition, make your life better by working smarter and not harder, commit to moving from a POS system stuck in the past and move into the future. The Lightning Retail POS Technology Platform was designed with you in mind. We work harder than anyone to make conversions as painless as possible. We understand today’s retail business and we keep an eye on the future to make sure we are always current, relevant and reasonably priced.
It's time to make a change. Leave the past and be part of the future withLightning Retail POS Technology Platform. Visit our website at www.computerperfect.com.
Read more about our POS system in this brochure.
